tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56966102558755713452017-07-29T01:52:24.506-07:00I'm Just Here for the BirdMy continuing adventure to see all the birds. Check out my 2012 Big Year at my2012bigyear.blogspot.comRobert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-87120214171547969402017-07-23T17:40:00.001-07:002017-07-23T17:40:22.030-07:00Summer 2017 and 2 More Ontario LifersThe last two birds I was expecting to show up in the Greater Toronto Area were a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and a Tri-colored Heron.<div><br></div><div><b><font size="4">June 25, Ontario Lifer 312, Scissor Tailed Flycatcher at Marie Curtis Park:</font></b></div><div><b><font size="4"><br></font></b></div><img id="id_a306_76c0_373f_da6f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Xdataln4Qr4/WXVB8Z-h1eI/AAAAAAAAGtk/1aF3Il5gwz4Wa6nBbLPDi7fZJibpXHBowCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b931_e336_4765_8050" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MiWPfGejGoI/WXVB7QU1fQI/AAAAAAAAGtc/vftDFMd7-lY8RskI5RhTnw0btJ18VPHwQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br><br></div><div><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>July 22, Ontario Lifer 313, Tri-colored Heron at Tommy Thompson Park,(our rare bird magnate):</b></span></font></div><div><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br></b></span></font></div><div><img id="id_39f0_2604_5ba5_cf7d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fGv-dB76WWg/WXVB7d2_5BI/AAAAAAAAGtY/H-ohGPeFcVsTEJX4PxESyzpqa-SWR2DxACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br></b></span></font></div><div><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b>And as a Bonus I added American Dipper to my Canadian Life List, and got my first photos of this elusive bird:</b></span></font></div><div><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br></b></span></font></div><div><img id="id_ca15_45af_fd2_3794" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hm3mjv76vV4/WXVB8d28GVI/AAAAAAAAGtg/ZATiVBbr7kM71DrAFnZ6G8u_vLIZziWfACHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br></b></span></font></div><div><img id="id_8233_a8bd_fec8_84d2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gnTOdn6637k/WXVB9PzNTrI/AAAAAAAAGto/IT-m0yFxoF0kc7Txq-mw26-1SPrNTLmkQCHMYCw/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br><font size="4"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><b><br></b></span></font></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-54858732650518074172017-06-03T07:42:00.001-07:002017-06-03T07:50:35.106-07:00Spring 2017 and More LifersThe earlier Willow Ptarmigan was just an Ontario Lifer but in the weeks since I have added 4 birds in the ABA area to my Life List, 659-662, including a very rare Little Bunting:<div><br></div><div><img id="id_ba0_429a_a0ab_6934" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f_x09WdMFxc/WTLK21hLnRI/AAAAAAAAGs4/si3iGFqZ2eM0Bh9xDV_0QFDj00__2WQsgCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><img id="id_445b_de61_41af_621e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PVu3-upBqSQ/WTLK3RDgaEI/AAAAAAAAGtA/36lKSuA_VVcRQKUuft9Ww4JBhBBHWwQ8ACHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<img id="id_d961_e02f_b1ee_56f3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Z1kzjRiiFbs/WTLK1z5GquI/AAAAAAAAGso/gfK0aZu0VLcMo8QwhJ6uI8kDWC80axdCQCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Also the nearly as rare Slate-throated Redstart:</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d46e_ec87_bcdb_aaaf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wp6u9v9JB-A/WTLK18xysWI/AAAAAAAAGss/ES41Kw-HLG8K0TOTbTx5syhLgx3wS7PKQCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_3554_3be6_c08d_8076" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9P7OYwXM37c/WTLK2kQu1pI/AAAAAAAAGsw/SeEgSpW0dqYnG6JvzXCudjxaiVeDqyi1ACHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>And finally the Five-striped Sparrow and as a bonus, a Buff-collared Nightjar:</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_58b1_11a9_1a29_53f9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5u7MtydmXkE/WTLK24d5uvI/AAAAAAAAGs0/e5KbW46wUm8A6FquEnzta7DEbi_eecB3QCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_bc88_dbf7_44b_3821" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5qpax7su69M/WTLMudoOkQI/AAAAAAAAGtI/O4CkUUcdz7Qt6c67-mfO2fYJrh39j4RCQCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>Can you find the Nightjar?</div><div><br></div><img id="id_7a06_ded9_56e6_b2a5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GUP6ho9cg9Q/WTLK3a2U5eI/AAAAAAAAGs8/3dcsiqXQsVEkpgxd7pbURYYPcesICO7OQCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 353px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>My total World Life List is now 944 and counting...</div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-19726485093798856102017-05-25T18:29:00.001-07:002017-05-25T18:54:07.088-07:00Spring Migration 2017 and the Willow Ptarmigan I have made progress in my recovery since my last report. &nbsp;I can now walk several hundred yards at a time, using a cane or walking stick, as long as I carry my 3-legged stool with me to rest. &nbsp;Along with the regular influx of warblers, an even more special visitor showed up in Toronto at the the Leslie Street Spit. &nbsp;It wasn't an ABA Lifer, but it was new for my Ontario List,(310) and only the second record for Ontario: a Willow Ptarmigan. &nbsp;I had seen one during my Big Year at Denali National Park in Alaska, but never expected one to show up here.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Luckily the bird was still there on the Saturday of the annual bird festival, which meant there was a shuttle that took us relatively close to the ptarmigan's location. &nbsp;Still there was a bit of a slow, achy walk, but I had my stool, so I could sit and rest every once in a while and we finally did make it to what they call Pippit Point, and were rewarded with good looks at first, and then, after it flew a few hundred yards north, even better looks. &nbsp;A big crowd of birders from all over southern Ontario also showed up to see this rare visitor.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_f431_b5a5_9cdc_2f4c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MWAuxZeda60/WSeDoKXB5sI/AAAAAAAAGrs/NAgXyzYZtuQ_KOVI10xoMlLhikDss7d2wCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" />&nbsp;</div><img alt="" id="id_aaf3_8c7e_4193_6f06" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Tj_Rhw02PPA/WSeDjseGmfI/AAAAAAAAGro/jgien57TTBcApQEH9jag0N5FB9hXtzdxACHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" />&nbsp;<img alt="" id="id_5338_d428_5ad4_12f5" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SuSXgqglzH4/WSeDu5srnvI/AAAAAAAAGrw/VUTr7FAr0sUMZFMS61742V2uLorcWlCTgCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><div><br /></div><div>During the height of Migration we were also able to find a Yellow-breasted Chat, along with a handful of lovely spring birds...</div><div><br /></div><img alt="" id="id_5924_1373_5d16_f81a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QyHnjxe0uFc/WSeEwvbSyCI/AAAAAAAAGsA/kR1Q88I1umYgvAQL6HRw8V7Hs4awgzdDACHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Rusty Blackbird:</div><div><br /></div><img alt="" id="id_f10b_8ee7_d7fe_43e0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZpLXKf_MQCo/WSeDw0UjTuI/AAAAAAAAGr0/-4S2Qk2JDxMEDjXoLkLxUCJ3SFVLjvJuQCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Clay-colored Sparrow:</div><div><br /></div><img alt="" id="id_da44_3f11_242c_c1bb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-n-GjRWe3QZs/WSeEyp1cxOI/AAAAAAAAGsE/EZ0aSfLUCpUypb1E46ntXVPxM5F0YH2bgCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><div><br /></div><div>Red-headed Woodpecker:</div><div><br /></div><img alt="" id="id_2be3_4ab8_3594_fb3f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YhQc-HXe7p0/WSeEZqCPUqI/AAAAAAAAGr8/o4uYHXxDSk01gw-tdj6qp64qxgeGKg5TwCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><div><br /><div>&nbsp;First Robin Babies of the year:</div><div><br /><div>&nbsp;<img alt="" id="id_e7cd_1150_937e_21a0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jZ2hVUJU6vc/WSeFEzQzOaI/AAAAAAAAGsY/DBTXIc7OqcMfuS0snvd4zlNbPRlbJavGgCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-81927066218665173642017-04-29T08:38:00.001-07:002017-04-29T08:38:38.920-07:00Back to Birding, After Extensive Back SurgeryFor the past six weeks my birding has been limited to looking out windows, either while in the Toronto Western Hospital, where I spent three weeks recovery from two surgeries on my back, or my kitchen window, which looks out on my back yard feeders. &nbsp;Near the end of February I began to realize there was something very wrong with my back and while in Florida saw a specialist who recommended I fly directly home and have it taken care of as soon as possible. &nbsp;I was fortunate that the doctor in Florida was able to talk to my doctor in Toronto and get me in for surgery within 10 days of my initial diagnosis. &nbsp;Up until then, as of February 28 I had birded and submitted an e-Bird List on 424 consecutive days. &nbsp;I had really wanted to submit a list every day of the year in back to back years, but it was not to be.<div><br></div><div>I just wasn't up to e-Birding pigeons from my hospital window, though occasionally a gull, crow or starling would fly by. &nbsp;But once I arrived home, after the monotony of the hospital, I set up my swivel bar stool by my back window, facing the feeders and have back yard birded every day since April 5. &nbsp;Even got out the other day for some birding in James Gardens, just down the road from home. &nbsp;I am hoping to be cleared for driving next week, even though I am not 100% fit for doing but else than sitting, standing and walking a couple of hundred yards or so at at time, but after six weeks of recovery, I am ready for some variety in my birding spots.</div><div><br></div><div>Photos from the back yard:</div><div><br></div><div>A Fox Sparrow was one of the early highlights:</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_46a7_e53a_22c5_a135" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KdYJTUY6_a8/WQSzfEiE2DI/AAAAAAAAGrU/8TE_gxe_rqs4fwVp0KlH69OImoD6SR4CwCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>This pair of Mallards have returned to our ponds for the fourth consecutive year:</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_4bb2_7a98_6e5a_334d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YoNR09XoVWs/WQSzdmWTeeI/AAAAAAAAGrI/2bcdwiL5DqsxGHzj5clo_2PNATPlzy3CwCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_571f_b9ce_4d34_db40" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QB0ELLZqn-Q/WQSze48sh9I/AAAAAAAAGrQ/7kTu2bnWQZsLqmnFhWHNvoD8_wk4NH4sACHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>One rainy day the only bird present was a Mourning Dove that looked cold and miserable:</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8654_f568_2a2d_51d7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MRnpG60gpxI/WQSzfd3a3TI/AAAAAAAAGrY/DRhyN4gk0IcFYTc9EhXvFLSECBIBn7KOwCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"></div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;<br></div><img id="id_7384_426a_a314_9525" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-grSXr7Huu2c/WQSzfFTxPTI/AAAAAAAAGrM/Vzv584cbvYwqqXEaIpoB8neNHpBMj4diwCHM/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-48454837827656429422017-02-09T18:49:00.001-08:002017-02-10T09:59:35.777-08:00Black-backed Oriole: From Mexico to Pennsylvania, no Passport NeededThere aren't any walls blocking Mexico from the US just yet, but no matter how high Donald Trump tries to build them, some Mexican migrants will still find their way into America. &nbsp;In this case, a vagrant Black-backed Oriole, endemic to Mexico and chief predator of the Monarch Butterfly, found its way to a quiet residential street in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, to the delight of over 800 - and counting - happy birders who have traveled wide and far to see a bird so rare in the United States&nbsp;it is not yet on the list of the American Birding Association.<br /><div><br /></div><div>I had been following the NARBA reports since it was first reported on February 3, but work and other commitments have kept me from chasing anything more than a Harlequin Duck here in Toronto. &nbsp;There are birds in California and Arizona that I'd love to find time for, but at the moment, a one day there and back driving trip is all I can fit into my schedule. &nbsp;So, I drove the 7 plus hours from Toronto, and arrived early Wednesday morning at Indiana Ave. in Sinking Spring, Pennsyvania and joined the 20 or so other birders on a driveway of a local resident, and awaited the Oriole.</div><div><br /></div><div>Short wait, as it turned out. &nbsp;Less than 10 minutes and the Black-backed Oriole alighted a top a tree in the distance and within another five minutes came closer and eventually landed on the feeder in the back yard across the road, where it enjoyed a lovely breakfast of fresh cut oranges. &nbsp;After all the hours I've spent looking for and waiting to find other rarities, it was nice to just arrive and see the bird. &nbsp;There was probably more socializing on the driveway than there was bird looking. &nbsp;I actually recognized one gentleman, a birder and nature photographer whom I've run into at least one other time chasing rare birds, likely in Florida.</div><div></div><div>The bird was discovered by Susan and Richard Hybki and they quickly discovered it was not your average oriole. &nbsp;It took a few days after she shared a photograph of the bird for it to be identified on an Advanced Bird ID Facebook page by a Mexican birder who was amazed that people in Pennsylvania were seeing a Black-backed Oriole before even he had seen one for himself.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_945a_b085_9424_77a9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A1doA0CbSR0/WJ0qToOP_4I/AAAAAAAAGqc/WVrzE5ZfhcQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" />&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The Homeowner across the street is happy to have birders come and use his driveway to view the Black-backed Oriole. &nbsp;Just remember to sign in, please and not block the driveways. &nbsp;And he is not, nor does he intend to become, a birder as a result of this experience.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_b388_bd76_5fe0_f34f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a3XNDsQUiog/WJ0qUP8hkwI/AAAAAAAAGqg/5ItsmVrAYhY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_ac4a_5d75_908d_96b9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jGPnKmPQgMs/WJ0qRyXG7iI/AAAAAAAAGqU/9zWmH24lQmg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" />&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_6faf_bcef_6d_97df" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zTUjIEOo16k/WJ0qTbsIflI/AAAAAAAAGqY/sIWULuMUdpg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" />&nbsp;</div><div></div><div>On the way to the oirole I had to stop to watch a flyover of somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 Snow Geese:</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_92b2_9af7_27fd_4f22" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pzizq5OmYCY/WJ0qU8au_DI/AAAAAAAAGqo/7v6AK2Dh9Ng/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" />&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_96e9_f16_40ab_274c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sJHzhHXeDuU/WJ0qU9lnZEI/AAAAAAAAGqk/0XXrgLIbLgs/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" style="height: auto; width: 974px;" title="" tooltip="" />&nbsp;</div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-42241563040653905042017-01-23T10:20:00.001-08:002017-01-23T10:20:43.261-08:00Tropical Rarities in South FloridaLast year in south Florida I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time for the Code 5 Zenaida Dove, an ABA Lifer and also have my &nbsp;second look at at female Blackd-faced Grassquit. &nbsp;But I also experienced the frustration of not finding a Smooth-billed Ani, on about half a dozen attempts. &nbsp;I also missed both male and female Wesetern Spindalis, though the spindalis would not be an ABA lifer and I have seen Smooth-billed Ani outside of the ABA Area in Costa Rica, 2014.<div><br></div><div>Last week was a different story. &nbsp;I had time to scoot down the east coast from the Viera Wetlands to South Beach and pick up a trio of rare birds:&nbsp;</div><div>Smooth-billed Ani, Western Spindalis and a Bananaquit. &nbsp;The ani and Bananauit were ABA Lifers numbers 657 and 658. &nbsp;The first day I stopped in Viera Wetlands, a short drive from Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach. &nbsp;This was the easiest bird of the trio as it was hanging out near a brush pile on the entrance road, and was a 30 second walk from the parking lot, even though a number of birders just parked on the road. &nbsp;However, the bird didn't seem to mind and posed for lots of photos, but objected to one photographer,(no binoculars, so not a birder), who actually walked into the grass and tried to get within a few feet of the ani, which, of course, flushed it from the brush pile for a while.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Smooth-billed Ani:</b></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_c661_e49_2a48_e3e3" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hbsSCGeK0N4/WIZJZTVKgXI/AAAAAAAAGp0/H12HzSATC5s/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_6293_1e57_7e6d_6ab0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-838sAODIVbQ/WIZJZI73CWI/AAAAAAAAGps/manormwe3Hc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>Next stop was Crandon Park in South Beach, a few miles north of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. &nbsp;It was at Bill Baggs late in 2016 where I spent a couple of hours along the bird trail, getting rained on and not finding a Western Spindalis. &nbsp;I have seen the bird down in Key West, during my 2012 Big Year but wanted it for both my Bird and Blue Jays Big Year List and for the photograph I failed to get back in 2012. &nbsp;This time around it had been seen frequently, likely the same bird from Bill Baggs, in the trees around the south parking lot. &nbsp;My late afternoon visit failed to turn up the bird, but I arrived early the next morning and found it and got my photo within an hour. &nbsp;That left me time to go back to Richardson Historic Park and try for the Bananaquit.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Female Western Spindalis:</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div><img id="id_4958_712a_9cc2_aaed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f0BV9FbxQP4/WIZJZeMG91I/AAAAAAAAGpw/WtcZrZO39ak/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<b><br></b></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_94db_1dd1_7c3_f235" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jSB-Y9t5nG0/WIZJaIM72uI/AAAAAAAAGp4/nls5EWnRYxc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div>From South Beach I drove drivectly to Richardson Historic Park, where the previous evening I stayed until sunset without seeing the Bananaquit, but had heard it was more of an early bird, so arrived by 10:30am and within half an hour the half dozen or so of us were rewarded by wonderful and close views of the Bananaquit. &nbsp;Even better looks here than I had back in Costa Rica in 2014.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_6a45_e40f_6c0c_c477" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DoSbJYb5A3A/WIZJeYSUZ6I/AAAAAAAAGqE/kds87WCyhl8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_15be_ef67_b4f5_b16d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mLkjg2RlB9U/WIZJddsUj-I/AAAAAAAAGqA/em4mWUZUZOg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d607_7ef8_4380_4aed" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5ZuVmVuTPe8/WIZJcNWFDUI/AAAAAAAAGp8/CrmIzCV7kwQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;">&nbsp;<br></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-59812068410425692172017-01-01T19:13:00.000-08:002017-01-01T19:13:17.527-08:00Now, where did I Leave Off?So, I began writing my first Blog of 2016 before I new I was going to be travelling most of 2016 and started a new blog, birdsandbluejays.blogspot.com, and chronicled my 2016 year of travelling around most of the Lower 48.<br /><br />So back to a slower birding pace. &nbsp;In 2017 my goal is not to see hundreds of species. &nbsp;Aside from submitting just one eBird List a day, as the folks ebird.com suggest,(there is a contest too), my two goals for this upcoming year are to take trips for Lifers only and try to get photographs of birds I've seen but failed to capture digitally, and get better photos of some of the birds that have eluded good focus or composition along the way. Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-73589058739381788842016-02-23T07:27:00.000-08:002016-02-23T07:27:56.467-08:00Catching up on the New YearI'm writing this mostly for myself, adding reports as I feel the need, as I know I will forget most of what has happend in my life over time.&nbsp; Since adding the Painted Bunting as Ontario species 292, I have been to Arizona, Algonquin Park and now am back in Florida for my fourth season of Spring Birding.<br /><br />This was seventh trip to Arizona for birding since April of 2012 and I was able to add 15 new species for the state, but only one Lifer, the Williamson's Sapsucker. &nbsp;However, it was really Sue's chance to once again pass me on the Life List, as the majority of these western birds were new for her. &nbsp;She has rightfully taken the lead in this "friendly" competition, with 839 to my 799. &nbsp;However, I finally got photographs of Montezuma Quail, in two different locations, and once again found the Elegant Trogan in Patagonia Lake State Park.&nbsp; We saw 124 species in 6 days, visited Tombstone, saw thousands of Sandhill Cranes and a Barn Owl at Whitewater Draw, and Sue saw the Sinaola Wren I had seen last year.&nbsp; I missed it this time.<br /><br /><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-23917981965096240902015-01-12T06:25:00.001-08:002015-01-12T06:25:35.438-08:00New Year, New Birds!I have now been a birder for 3 years. &nbsp;I still love it and am still, somewhat obsessive about it. &nbsp;I still go out most days and have spent more days outdoors standing in the cold in the last 3 years than I probably did in the previous 25. &nbsp;My ABA List is now at 633 Species, all but the Dusky Grouse seen in since I started birding in January of 2012. &nbsp;My World Life List, which includes a trip to Costa Rica this year is 2 shy of 800. &nbsp;I hope to get to and pass 800 in Arizona later this month.<br /><br />So to wrap up 2014, I saw 555 total species,(including over 200 in Costa Rica), and added 15 ABA species to my North American List. &nbsp;In 2013 I added 20, so based on the progession, 10 Lifers might be a good target to reach and surpass in 2015<br /><br /><h4>Here are some of the birds from early this year, including a few local rarities</h4>&nbsp;The Evening Grosbeaks hung around into the New Year in High Park:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ6w-RmpJSA/VLPUStp6LEI/AAAAAAAAFwA/vXtvl57OZ50/s1600/DSC00024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJ6w-RmpJSA/VLPUStp6LEI/AAAAAAAAFwA/vXtvl57OZ50/s1600/DSC00024.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjNnM1uR6fc/VLPUrReG-BI/AAAAAAAAFwo/bADBuK-NlMI/s1600/DSC00035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XjNnM1uR6fc/VLPUrReG-BI/AAAAAAAAFwo/bADBuK-NlMI/s1600/DSC00035.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>As did the Painted Bunting on Oakville's Arkendo Drive, along with a few friends:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp;Painted Bunting:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMFn--LQjvI/VLPUoPSPEKI/AAAAAAAAFwY/DKmquIl4hS8/s1600/DSC00045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gMFn--LQjvI/VLPUoPSPEKI/AAAAAAAAFwY/DKmquIl4hS8/s1600/DSC00045.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csjHEnpwBMM/VLPUz9FJNqI/AAAAAAAAFw4/ELOrOaAdwog/s1600/DSC00051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csjHEnpwBMM/VLPUz9FJNqI/AAAAAAAAFw4/ELOrOaAdwog/s1600/DSC00051.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Female Nortern Cardinal:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTo9i0rZr1Q/VLPYlqDW8CI/AAAAAAAAFxs/dVoXScISUrg/s1600/DSC00002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GTo9i0rZr1Q/VLPYlqDW8CI/AAAAAAAAFxs/dVoXScISUrg/s1600/DSC00002.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>&nbsp;Carolina Wren:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Of-MJyfYtY/VLPYe2UNMsI/AAAAAAAAFxg/l2c_mzi31fo/s1600/DSC00026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2Of-MJyfYtY/VLPYe2UNMsI/AAAAAAAAFxg/l2c_mzi31fo/s1600/DSC00026.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br />White-breasted Nuthatch:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVWKvbioqpA/VLPYevO5NkI/AAAAAAAAFxc/dhnGhcJYbn4/s1600/DSC00032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mVWKvbioqpA/VLPYevO5NkI/AAAAAAAAFxc/dhnGhcJYbn4/s1600/DSC00032.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Snowy Owls are back again in 2015, along Lake Ontario:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_45fBp4Lb8U/VLPU4eKe9II/AAAAAAAAFxA/zcIpuspQRZI/s1600/DSC00085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_45fBp4Lb8U/VLPU4eKe9II/AAAAAAAAFxA/zcIpuspQRZI/s1600/DSC00085.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PDstgs5jtX4/VLPU_g6UDVI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/qmrrpF-XwwA/s1600/DSC00138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PDstgs5jtX4/VLPU_g6UDVI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/qmrrpF-XwwA/s1600/DSC00138.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />And the First Year Male King Eider has also hung out into the New Year:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54SoD9FlyyA/VLPUvLcLRfI/AAAAAAAAFww/kuZ9gtKjLEE/s1600/DSC00099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54SoD9FlyyA/VLPUvLcLRfI/AAAAAAAAFww/kuZ9gtKjLEE/s1600/DSC00099.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ibe5lijT07s/VLPU-G9v4QI/AAAAAAAAFxI/YSr2KvS90x0/s1600/DSC00110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ibe5lijT07s/VLPU-G9v4QI/AAAAAAAAFxI/YSr2KvS90x0/s1600/DSC00110.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-85420888173138971332014-12-27T11:29:00.001-08:002014-12-28T07:07:05.695-08:00American Three-toed WoodpeckerI took the day, yesterday, to drive to Ottawa, then across the river into Gatineau, Quebec on the news that a close cousin of the Black-backed Woodpecker had been seen in the wooded areas of a residential neighbourhood, that borders on a Golf Course. &nbsp;I had missed this bird previously in Alaska and north of Timmins, Ontario. &nbsp;Of course, I had to hope for better luck, as last week I had crossed the border into the US looking for Barnacle and Pink-footed Goose, and had come up with the preverbial Goose Egg. &nbsp;This time, however, after an hour or so of searching, with the help of local birders Ken and Richard, I did find the target bird and notched my 555th bird of the year and species&nbsp;<b>#633</b> for my <b><i>ABA</i></b> Life List, in just a week shy of three obsessive years of being a Birder.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h4>&nbsp;American Three-toed Woodpecker:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COxPlpVPHvc/VJ8EEEDW0vI/AAAAAAAAFuI/JSoTVobbXpM/s1600/DSC00020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-COxPlpVPHvc/VJ8EEEDW0vI/AAAAAAAAFuI/JSoTVobbXpM/s1600/DSC00020.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iMahjY8cZ4/VJ8ELH2owDI/AAAAAAAAFuY/UoOgcoVnvXM/s1600/DSC00023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iMahjY8cZ4/VJ8ELH2owDI/AAAAAAAAFuY/UoOgcoVnvXM/s1600/DSC00023.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UetO-pZR_0/VJ8EOEYKc-I/AAAAAAAAFus/EK4fpY7gaHI/s1600/DSC00024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4UetO-pZR_0/VJ8EOEYKc-I/AAAAAAAAFus/EK4fpY7gaHI/s1600/DSC00024.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THdZ9ha7t4k/VJ8EQYJhk8I/AAAAAAAAFu8/691ArB8qy-E/s1600/DSC00034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-THdZ9ha7t4k/VJ8EQYJhk8I/AAAAAAAAFu8/691ArB8qy-E/s1600/DSC00034.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h4>&nbsp;Piliated Woodpecker Close by,(I also saw Downy and Hairy on the same street):</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-bETODeP6I/VJ8EWYHxbUI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/ZW-xQ5eGm2o/s1600/Piliated%2BWoodpecker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3-bETODeP6I/VJ8EWYHxbUI/AAAAAAAAFvQ/ZW-xQ5eGm2o/s1600/Piliated%2BWoodpecker.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4>Northern Saw-whet Owl at Col. Sam Smith Park today,(#155 for the park list):</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BsaS2f88K54/VJ8EX_HqH2I/AAAAAAAAFvo/PEqxQqQvRBI/s1600/Northern%2BSaw-whet%2BOwl%2B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BsaS2f88K54/VJ8EX_HqH2I/AAAAAAAAFvo/PEqxQqQvRBI/s1600/Northern%2BSaw-whet%2BOwl%2B.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4>Snowy Owl #72 at Col. Sam Smith,(2nd Owl of the day):</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_232X_mnr8Q/VJ8EYVEn0zI/AAAAAAAAFvg/6FbezD6ApPQ/s1600/Snowy%2BOwl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_232X_mnr8Q/VJ8EYVEn0zI/AAAAAAAAFvg/6FbezD6ApPQ/s1600/Snowy%2BOwl.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-58536015116012379662014-12-20T13:44:00.002-08:002014-12-27T09:44:28.147-08:00Another Rare BuntingI returned home from California to discover another misplaced Bunting, in this case, a Painted Bunting that seems to be taking the long way around to its wintering grounds in Florida. &nbsp;# <b>292</b> on my Ontario Life List over my 3 years of birding<br /><h4>Painted Bunting visiting a backyard feeder in Oakville, Ontario</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qr1I08c7xuI/VJXtYUNHGoI/AAAAAAAAFtU/P3YqNtSrOog/s1600/DSC00014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qr1I08c7xuI/VJXtYUNHGoI/AAAAAAAAFtU/P3YqNtSrOog/s1600/DSC00014.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRf1ZP8s8DM/VJXovWXzllI/AAAAAAAAFqw/lybr5-SQpHo/s1600/DSC00013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRf1ZP8s8DM/VJXovWXzllI/AAAAAAAAFqw/lybr5-SQpHo/s1600/DSC00013.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rVMpENFkxDk/VJXtSndadzI/AAAAAAAAFs8/ccq0IIkm0jM/s1600/DSC00012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rVMpENFkxDk/VJXtSndadzI/AAAAAAAAFs8/ccq0IIkm0jM/s1600/DSC00012.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-8339510005440525772014-12-20T13:38:00.001-08:002014-12-20T13:38:09.115-08:00Some of the Other California BirdsI had hoped to finally see a California Condor on this, my second attempt. &nbsp;First was in Pinnacles National Monument in 2012 and this time at Big Sur. &nbsp;However, over the course of four days I did count 103 species, including the Rustic Bunting and 4 other ABA Lifers: Tricolored Blackbird, Cassin's Auklet, Black-vented Shearwater and the Island Scrub Jay on Santa Cruz Island.<br /><h4>Black Turnstone</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4V1LfwMbfCg/VJXogYdyAoI/AAAAAAAAFqU/ydGWb4a8fn8/s1600/Black%2BTurnstone.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4V1LfwMbfCg/VJXogYdyAoI/AAAAAAAAFqU/ydGWb4a8fn8/s1600/Black%2BTurnstone.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;The deliciously named Cinnamon Teal</h4><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQDsoQBAdDE/VJXoiTrb_UI/AAAAAAAAFqc/aovw5gSiSZQ/s1600/Cinnamon%2BTeal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iQDsoQBAdDE/VJXoiTrb_UI/AAAAAAAAFqc/aovw5gSiSZQ/s1600/Cinnamon%2BTeal.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a><br /><h4>&nbsp;Bathing Common Loon</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6FVCB8KL8Lo/VJXok7GrfvI/AAAAAAAAFqk/V9zMdmwzXGc/s1600/Common%2BLoon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6FVCB8KL8Lo/VJXok7GrfvI/AAAAAAAAFqk/V9zMdmwzXGc/s1600/Common%2BLoon.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Brandt's Cormorant and Frined</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oyyp3elJInY/VJXo0-SduiI/AAAAAAAAFq0/eN36gGmWvo4/s1600/DSC00014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oyyp3elJInY/VJXo0-SduiI/AAAAAAAAFq0/eN36gGmWvo4/s1600/DSC00014.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Winter Whimbrel</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qA5P8JmKnnY/VJXo8INNhII/AAAAAAAAFq8/WKRsR1L9tMc/s1600/DSC00017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qA5P8JmKnnY/VJXo8INNhII/AAAAAAAAFq8/WKRsR1L9tMc/s1600/DSC00017.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Snow Geese at the Salton Sea, just a handfull of the thousands present</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOQ4aG92KsA/VJXpAU9_PGI/AAAAAAAAFrE/zWQ6WRT85ao/s1600/DSC00069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wOQ4aG92KsA/VJXpAU9_PGI/AAAAAAAAFrE/zWQ6WRT85ao/s1600/DSC00069.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Anna's Hummingbird, California Towhee and Western Scrub Jay</h4><h4>at the Orcott Ranch Horticultural Park</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4id-H2WqkE/VJXpE2_fqcI/AAAAAAAAFrM/kqjTg9ftqEo/s1600/DSC00265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h4id-H2WqkE/VJXpE2_fqcI/AAAAAAAAFrM/kqjTg9ftqEo/s1600/DSC00265.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vdLwUiEl6A8/VJXpTakVk7I/AAAAAAAAFrk/sfvPi5lvwx0/s1600/DSC00306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vdLwUiEl6A8/VJXpTakVk7I/AAAAAAAAFrk/sfvPi5lvwx0/s1600/DSC00306.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-htfnW8BDQH4/VJXpSIQIg4I/AAAAAAAAFrU/zjANz2A0Z6A/s1600/DSC00334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-htfnW8BDQH4/VJXpSIQIg4I/AAAAAAAAFrU/zjANz2A0Z6A/s1600/DSC00334.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Common Raven and Island Scrub Jay on Santa Cruz Island</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IRFDTQJQ75o/VJXpS2AUWiI/AAAAAAAAFrc/JA7NONyjojU/s1600/DSC00438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IRFDTQJQ75o/VJXpS2AUWiI/AAAAAAAAFrc/JA7NONyjojU/s1600/DSC00438.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv1mE6GGXo4/VJXpYJ9Er0I/AAAAAAAAFrs/Ap8s8y8lx44/s1600/DSC00458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Iv1mE6GGXo4/VJXpYJ9Er0I/AAAAAAAAFrs/Ap8s8y8lx44/s1600/DSC00458.JPG" height="512" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h4>&nbsp;Nuttle's Woodpecker at the Orcott Ranch</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yaD2WlQaimk/VJXpbSOOv9I/AAAAAAAAFr0/BLiFMBX-8Dc/s1600/Nuttle's%2BWoodpecker-Female.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yaD2WlQaimk/VJXpbSOOv9I/AAAAAAAAFr0/BLiFMBX-8Dc/s1600/Nuttle's%2BWoodpecker-Female.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Winter Pacific Loon vs Western Gull</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kQy5ekZ0x_0/VJXpmwSCUAI/AAAAAAAAFsc/3YMUfU5Gcdo/s1600/Pacific%2BLoon%2Bvs%2BWestern%2BGull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kQy5ekZ0x_0/VJXpmwSCUAI/AAAAAAAAFsc/3YMUfU5Gcdo/s1600/Pacific%2BLoon%2Bvs%2BWestern%2BGull.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Sandhill Cranes at Dusk at the Sulton Sea</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tDgUMRUVQh8/VJXpmE9zwrI/AAAAAAAAFsM/0Hxrznn4cl0/s1600/Sandhill%2BCranes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tDgUMRUVQh8/VJXpmE9zwrI/AAAAAAAAFsM/0Hxrznn4cl0/s1600/Sandhill%2BCranes.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Say's Phoebe greeting visitors</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AzuPmCiPSrY/VJXpmH5EipI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/_gnBzsoXhUE/s1600/Say's%2BPhoebe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AzuPmCiPSrY/VJXpmH5EipI/AAAAAAAAFsQ/_gnBzsoXhUE/s1600/Say's%2BPhoebe.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Townsend's Warbler</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62r1mHiyRg8/VJXpobcmXII/AAAAAAAAFsk/3G7VvCZbqcY/s1600/Townsend's%2BWarbler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-62r1mHiyRg8/VJXpobcmXII/AAAAAAAAFsk/3G7VvCZbqcY/s1600/Townsend's%2BWarbler.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;White-faced Ibis at the Salton Sea</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovBZPugzkTk/VJXpphlLl3I/AAAAAAAAFss/4Q0m5DwLxUU/s1600/White-faced%2BIbis.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ovBZPugzkTk/VJXpphlLl3I/AAAAAAAAFss/4Q0m5DwLxUU/s1600/White-faced%2BIbis.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-60873255404212017902014-12-18T09:02:00.005-08:002014-12-18T09:02:42.038-08:00A Rustic Bunting for me in CaliforniaIt was fortuitous that we were heading to San Diego for the Winter Meetings this year, as way up the coast, a Rustic Bunting appeared in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. &nbsp;Rustic Buntings are usually only seen in the furthest northern regions of Alaska, so until I can book a trip to Attu, this was the next best thing.<br /><br /><br /><h4>My original view of the Rustic Bunting:</h4><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsRUa1hlAE8/VJMIVpZg1ZI/AAAAAAAAFqA/KBXXJw7Gt3Q/s1600/DSC00489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KsRUa1hlAE8/VJMIVpZg1ZI/AAAAAAAAFqA/KBXXJw7Gt3Q/s1600/DSC00489.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><h4>Cropped Closeup of the Rustic Bunting:</h4><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dx_cxLcQfJI/VJMIVZA08II/AAAAAAAAFp8/g2EwUOhW1hw/s1600/IMG_3543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dx_cxLcQfJI/VJMIVZA08II/AAAAAAAAFp8/g2EwUOhW1hw/s1600/IMG_3543.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div><h2><br /></h2><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-55343577412822909552014-12-02T06:18:00.001-08:002015-01-02T10:52:33.640-08:00A Rambling Brambling in North Bay and Other Wayward Birds<h3>Here are some photos of my recent rare bird chases...</h3><div><br /></div><h4>The Brambling in North Bay</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYxbhLS20ec/VH3DhmCrBTI/AAAAAAAAFn4/cp2gnkTmC0U/s1600/DSC08966%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UYxbhLS20ec/VH3DhmCrBTI/AAAAAAAAFn4/cp2gnkTmC0U/s1600/DSC08966%2B2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wiD06h0iZIM/VH3Dntv8_hI/AAAAAAAAFoU/0kOf8Qy7ha4/s1600/DSC08978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wiD06h0iZIM/VH3Dntv8_hI/AAAAAAAAFoU/0kOf8Qy7ha4/s1600/DSC08978.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Spruce Grouse in Algonquin Park</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3uskYvpTWA/VH3Dr5A4qmI/AAAAAAAAFoo/QwDgSvLnXv4/s1600/DSC09029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3uskYvpTWA/VH3Dr5A4qmI/AAAAAAAAFoo/QwDgSvLnXv4/s1600/DSC09029.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Eurasian Tree Sparrow in Niagara-on-the-Lake</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfNpcet2nqM/VH3DreQg-1I/AAAAAAAAFog/R0xIBvYPsm0/s1600/DSC09120%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pfNpcet2nqM/VH3DreQg-1I/AAAAAAAAFog/R0xIBvYPsm0/s1600/DSC09120%2B-%2BVersion%2B2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ugXXx-ZBZPc/VH3DtwcmLVI/AAAAAAAAFpA/oSUQ2fh4HJw/s1600/DSC09120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ugXXx-ZBZPc/VH3DtwcmLVI/AAAAAAAAFpA/oSUQ2fh4HJw/s1600/DSC09120.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Adult Male King Eider at Port Weller, returning for the third straight year</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoDRva99dHE/VH3DtijSjrI/AAAAAAAAFo4/hLhuVRpZtl4/s1600/IMG_3501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XoDRva99dHE/VH3DtijSjrI/AAAAAAAAFo4/hLhuVRpZtl4/s1600/IMG_3501.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kobH3Hvib3w/VH3Dtqqo5RI/AAAAAAAAFo8/qE1E7-kosxA/s1600/IMG_3502.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kobH3Hvib3w/VH3Dtqqo5RI/AAAAAAAAFo8/qE1E7-kosxA/s1600/IMG_3502.jpg" height="638" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4>&nbsp;Female and Male Purple Finches at my back yard feeder; first time they've come my home</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-upJMCmftemc/VHyDLV8tILI/AAAAAAAAFnI/tx-oXp_zU3Q/s1600/DSC08465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-upJMCmftemc/VHyDLV8tILI/AAAAAAAAFnI/tx-oXp_zU3Q/s1600/DSC08465.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04IjiIbSjtc/VHyDQXvuc5I/AAAAAAAAFnY/gslVFMj4M6o/s1600/DSC08498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-04IjiIbSjtc/VHyDQXvuc5I/AAAAAAAAFnY/gslVFMj4M6o/s1600/DSC08498.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3>Some of my other fall photos:</h3><h4>Ontario:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_hcY13b4ao/VH3Jqx1kLEI/AAAAAAAAFpY/EvpbY5fryFQ/s1600/DSC09073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L_hcY13b4ao/VH3Jqx1kLEI/AAAAAAAAFpY/EvpbY5fryFQ/s1600/DSC09073.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qDKOLWr4IDA/VHyDTrmd7_I/AAAAAAAAFng/gCtBq8GEZQA/s1600/DSC08650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qDKOLWr4IDA/VHyDTrmd7_I/AAAAAAAAFng/gCtBq8GEZQA/s1600/DSC08650.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGTaQpTt5nk/VHyC1CsWd7I/AAAAAAAAFmo/dwvDCTO_Uqk/s1600/American%2BPipit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGTaQpTt5nk/VHyC1CsWd7I/AAAAAAAAFmo/dwvDCTO_Uqk/s1600/American%2BPipit.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGLOPBtQFr0/VHyDBdOHpQI/AAAAAAAAFm4/uZ5QU2g9gcE/s1600/DSC08153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OGLOPBtQFr0/VHyDBdOHpQI/AAAAAAAAFm4/uZ5QU2g9gcE/s1600/DSC08153.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwb9heic6_s/VHyDPmeXDtI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/b2g0cp7WvAE/s1600/Northern%2BHarrier.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwb9heic6_s/VHyDPmeXDtI/AAAAAAAAFnQ/b2g0cp7WvAE/s1600/Northern%2BHarrier.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JduUnpx-A_Q/VH3Drh0FePI/AAAAAAAAFok/8eudVexKlYg/s1600/DSC09035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JduUnpx-A_Q/VH3Drh0FePI/AAAAAAAAFok/8eudVexKlYg/s1600/DSC09035.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4>Florida:</h4><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypgEWqKlhkw/VH3DjDcknFI/AAAAAAAAFoA/MeJtZe8vE6Q/s1600/DSC08671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypgEWqKlhkw/VH3DjDcknFI/AAAAAAAAFoA/MeJtZe8vE6Q/s1600/DSC08671.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpgjDVRohU4/VH3DnNMkz4I/AAAAAAAAFoQ/P_u3ksAeGyM/s1600/DSC08730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cpgjDVRohU4/VH3DnNMkz4I/AAAAAAAAFoQ/P_u3ksAeGyM/s1600/DSC08730.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cT4LlCH1nTY/VH3DdYDYSSI/AAAAAAAAFnw/qt_xyGnhZKY/s1600/DSC08756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cT4LlCH1nTY/VH3DdYDYSSI/AAAAAAAAFnw/qt_xyGnhZKY/s1600/DSC08756.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-80813201739413247212014-09-26T12:30:00.000-07:002014-11-26T08:07:15.691-08:00Cape May Wrap-upAfter Seeing the Whiskered Tern, you'd think the rest of the trip would be anti-climactic. &nbsp;Anything but. &nbsp;We ventured down to Virginia to see not only the wild ponies,(and dolphins), of Chincoteague, but also found a bunch of new birds for the year list as well. &nbsp; Prior to leaving Cape May, we went to &nbsp;Stone Harbor for Red Knots, including a few still in breeding plumage, and the Meadows, where we saw a Clapper Rail, on two very well organised bird walks with exceptional leaders.<br /><br />In Virginia we found Brown-headed Nuthatches right outside our hotel room and at a local Wildlife Refuge, and on the way home stopped at Bombay Hook NWR where we saw Snow Goose, Avocets and Saltmarsh Sparrows. &nbsp;I had been hoping for Seaside Sparrows as well, but that will have to wait for another time. &nbsp;Our final stop was at the Iroquois Shore Line NWR where a lovely juvenile Broadwing Hawk soared just low enough for us to identify.<br /><br /><h4>A Lovely grouping of Red Knots</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHy7OUll_ig/VCVw3eZ2SOI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/QvhRh_Ar8Po/s1600/DSC07659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jHy7OUll_ig/VCVw3eZ2SOI/AAAAAAAAFkQ/QvhRh_Ar8Po/s1600/DSC07659.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7upLZVJhp7w/VCVxD4oq6zI/AAAAAAAAFkg/Bp_OKGzr41Y/s1600/DSC07660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7upLZVJhp7w/VCVxD4oq6zI/AAAAAAAAFkg/Bp_OKGzr41Y/s1600/DSC07660.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>View from the Cape May Ferry</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxKGhTuCc68/VCVxC927RYI/AAAAAAAAFkY/SAHpVYpwAiw/s1600/DSC07830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yxKGhTuCc68/VCVxC927RYI/AAAAAAAAFkY/SAHpVYpwAiw/s1600/DSC07830.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Brown-headed Nuthatch</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KpKQsHmc_wA/VCVxNXyLekI/AAAAAAAAFkw/SlicaAGbWXA/s1600/DSC07841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KpKQsHmc_wA/VCVxNXyLekI/AAAAAAAAFkw/SlicaAGbWXA/s1600/DSC07841.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Bottle-nose Dolphins</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_iKGxjetJq0/VCVxIVFQTrI/AAAAAAAAFko/yIbqt8UiObs/s1600/DSC07871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_iKGxjetJq0/VCVxIVFQTrI/AAAAAAAAFko/yIbqt8UiObs/s1600/DSC07871.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Chincoteague Ponies</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVIYi6gP55E/VCVxQ2Lv6II/AAAAAAAAFk4/fag92hyO9_U/s1600/DSC07912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OVIYi6gP55E/VCVxQ2Lv6II/AAAAAAAAFk4/fag92hyO9_U/s1600/DSC07912.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Delmarva Peninsula Fox Squrrel</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVi4Ov3DK7c/VCbJXbwj8wI/AAAAAAAAFmI/btHAIOEPCBY/s1600/DSC07951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVi4Ov3DK7c/VCbJXbwj8wI/AAAAAAAAFmI/btHAIOEPCBY/s1600/DSC07951.JPG" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rBs_-3kxW1Y/VCbJcf68O1I/AAAAAAAAFmQ/RPfMNS9CCpg/s1600/DSC07952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rBs_-3kxW1Y/VCbJcf68O1I/AAAAAAAAFmQ/RPfMNS9CCpg/s1600/DSC07952.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Carolina Chickadee</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IPQ5yCQPgs/VCW79CwbRKI/AAAAAAAAFlI/W6zf1_xs_-U/s1600/DSC07945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_IPQ5yCQPgs/VCW79CwbRKI/AAAAAAAAFlI/W6zf1_xs_-U/s1600/DSC07945.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Snow Geese</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWOF8huheEY/VCW79GUtbtI/AAAAAAAAFlU/2gXBXRbUi3k/s1600/DSC07971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWOF8huheEY/VCW79GUtbtI/AAAAAAAAFlU/2gXBXRbUi3k/s1600/DSC07971.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AIMins1mc8/VCW79flM_qI/AAAAAAAAFlM/MdIilpBD8zY/s1600/DSC07977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_AIMins1mc8/VCW79flM_qI/AAAAAAAAFlM/MdIilpBD8zY/s1600/DSC07977.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;American Avocet</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNEP6rmC9hE/VCW7-Y0rh_I/AAAAAAAAFlk/CVVuvIyPDiM/s1600/DSC07990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bNEP6rmC9hE/VCW7-Y0rh_I/AAAAAAAAFlk/CVVuvIyPDiM/s1600/DSC07990.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Saltmarsh Sparrow</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeWhQdruQ1U/VCW7-p_CF0I/AAAAAAAAFlc/PTTrGzGNjDQ/s1600/DSC08000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yeWhQdruQ1U/VCW7-p_CF0I/AAAAAAAAFlc/PTTrGzGNjDQ/s1600/DSC08000.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br />Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-18024270639037074352014-09-16T05:15:00.001-07:002014-09-17T19:32:02.121-07:00Code 5 Alert: Whiskered TernAfter weeks of fall birding at home and some really good birds, including a rare for Toronto Yellow-crowned Night Heron, plus a Parasitic Jaeger and both Least and American Bittern in Toronto,&nbsp; and after several and finally succesful, chases for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, I was ready to hit the road for a real rarity.&nbsp; And the birding gods came through with one whopper of a rarity, a Whiskered Tern in Cape May NJ.&nbsp; This bird should be in Africa or Australia, but not here on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.<br /><br />If not for work, I'd have been on the road Friday evening after reading the NARBA report, but Sue was wroking Saturday and I was working until late Sunday afternoon, so I could only hope this bird hung around long enough to get there sometime on Monday.<br /><br />Sunday after dinner we loaded up the car and drove to Syracuse, so we could get an early start to Cape May on Monday morning.&nbsp; We arrived just before 3pm at Cape May Point State Park, and the famed and fabled Hawk Watch platform, where many birderes were milling about.&nbsp; First question out of my mouth, "Is the Tern still around?"&nbsp; The birder I talked to had seen it within the last 5 minutes hovering over the pond directly in front of the Hawk Watcher deck.&nbsp; But it was flying back and forth from the pond to the beach.&nbsp; It was suggested that we hang around and it would eventually come back and fly over, or just take a walk to the beach and find it resting in the sand.<br /><br />We chose to walk the beach and did see a group of birders and photographers in the distance with cameras and scopes and headed that way.&nbsp; However, a group of gulls and terns caught my eye on the way over to them and I decided to check them out.&nbsp; Low and behold, a small, slightly odd looking bird captured my attention.&nbsp; Sue saw it too and before long I realized that we were looking right at the Whiskered Tern.&nbsp; Another birder came up behind us and figured we must be scoping something good and he confirmed our bird as well.&nbsp; To clinch it, the bird took off on its own and flew right back to the pond.&nbsp; We all rushed over there and got to watch it in flight, with a Black Tern, skimming the water and feeding on bugs, very much like the Black Tern feeds.&nbsp; So 20 hours afer leaving Toronto and arriving in Cape May, the chase was over in less than 5 minutes.<br /><br />In fact, the person who originally discovered the bird noticed it was feeding more like a Black Tern than a Common Tern and when watching it thought, this is no ordinary Tern.&nbsp; It wasn't long after that that it was identified as a Whiskered Tern, a&nbsp; bird that has only been reported in North America on two previous occasions, in 1993 and 1998 and right here in Cape May.<br /><br />For me, it was ABA species <b>626</b> and my third Code 5 bird, to go along with the Nutting's Flycatcher and Sinaola Wren.&nbsp; Including Costa Rica, I have seen <b>508</b> species this year and, perhaps, with a little luck can pass the 601 I did in North America back in 2012.<br /><br />Whiskered Tern, Cape May NJ: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIvl8Kv_ZKc/VBgoYBTtZEI/AAAAAAAAFi4/giTcULAzZSw/s1600/DSC07479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nIvl8Kv_ZKc/VBgoYBTtZEI/AAAAAAAAFi4/giTcULAzZSw/s1600/DSC07479.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lxu1hjgKWNM/VBgoYZNjQkI/AAAAAAAAFi8/3RK9BEr2PH8/s1600/DSC07526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lxu1hjgKWNM/VBgoYZNjQkI/AAAAAAAAFi8/3RK9BEr2PH8/s1600/DSC07526.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00KaV7jFReI/VBgoTEeZzAI/AAAAAAAAFiw/MwnJ5ISZrhA/s1600/DSC07550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00KaV7jFReI/VBgoTEeZzAI/AAAAAAAAFiw/MwnJ5ISZrhA/s1600/DSC07550.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2kX6yJghJQ/VBgobPMq6rI/AAAAAAAAFjI/YMvYDVrF0gU/s1600/DSC07555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f2kX6yJghJQ/VBgobPMq6rI/AAAAAAAAFjI/YMvYDVrF0gU/s1600/DSC07555.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">American Bittern&nbsp; </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pzajm0v95uU/VBgo9tSp-fI/AAAAAAAAFjY/EGyEka8m7DE/s1600/DSC07185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pzajm0v95uU/VBgo9tSp-fI/AAAAAAAAFjY/EGyEka8m7DE/s1600/DSC07185.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Horned Lark</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JD-HCFE0uv8/VBgo89KRl2I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/mjiFt12Vwrg/s1600/DSC07259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JD-HCFE0uv8/VBgo89KRl2I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/mjiFt12Vwrg/s1600/DSC07259.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Short-billed Dowitcher</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46r38jc6gVU/VBgpHZzdM1I/AAAAAAAAFjg/0BVZliLmCsE/s1600/DSC07314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-46r38jc6gVU/VBgpHZzdM1I/AAAAAAAAFjg/0BVZliLmCsE/s1600/DSC07314.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Least Bittern</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PV4f4ArgOPA/VBgpPwlPMMI/AAAAAAAAFjw/EjcrTRHvtDw/s1600/DSC07352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PV4f4ArgOPA/VBgpPwlPMMI/AAAAAAAAFjw/EjcrTRHvtDw/s1600/DSC07352.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-28352315414711464492014-08-13T07:40:00.000-07:002014-08-13T07:40:15.792-07:00Chasing ChukarsI'm not sure where these Chukars came from, but they are in the wild and for the purposes of my Americas year of birding, I consider them countable for my list. &nbsp;The biggest obstical to overcome was findng them a couple of days after they were reported on OntBirds. &nbsp;The location was pretty easy to find, and when I arrived there were two birds that could have been female Chuckars or juvinile Wild Turkeys making their way through the tall vegitation at the bottom of a hill. &nbsp;Though I got a couple of photos, they were pretty inconclusive. <br /><div><br /></div><div>I kept walking along the path to the north and eventually came to a corner, with a field in the distance and as I turned, a bird flushed, and it was unmistakable. &nbsp;A football shaped, chunky quail like bird flew across the path and into the high vegitation. &nbsp;I could clearly see the black mask across the eye, but it was gone before I could even think of taking a photo. &nbsp;Still it was the Chukar, and a new bird for the ABA Life List: 624 and new for the year: 502.<br /><br />I went back today and finally got a photo of a pair of them in a storm retention pond. &nbsp;The pond is at the bottom of an embankment at about a 20 degree slope, which is exaclty the environment Chukars like to be in. &nbsp; Perhaps there are females around and the birds will breed in the area, giving the new neighborhood a fine exotic bird to see as people walk the path. &nbsp;Or, as many people fond of game birds are wont to do, maybe just good eats.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr7BPXHk9I4/U-t0vaPk6fI/AAAAAAAAFe0/EMLbf_naTB0/s1600/DSC06936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr7BPXHk9I4/U-t0vaPk6fI/AAAAAAAAFe0/EMLbf_naTB0/s1600/DSC06936.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VsyKbNYoG4A/U-t0wNYKD2I/AAAAAAAAFe8/LJNWUAFy-P0/s1600/DSC06965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VsyKbNYoG4A/U-t0wNYKD2I/AAAAAAAAFe8/LJNWUAFy-P0/s1600/DSC06965.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zVbGKWM7r4/U-t0u3oofYI/AAAAAAAAFew/sgZNUunRBFg/s1600/DSC06987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1zVbGKWM7r4/U-t0u3oofYI/AAAAAAAAFew/sgZNUunRBFg/s1600/DSC06987.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-41043166206369692402014-08-05T19:40:00.002-07:002014-08-05T19:56:48.270-07:00Good Birds in FloridaWas nice to get some birding in on a recent trip to Florida and add enough birds to pass 500 species for the year, with the addition of 4 new species, Purple Swamphen, Monk Parakeet, Shiny Cowbird and 501: a Burrowing Owl I had missed on two other trips to Powerline Rd, north of Tampa.&nbsp;&nbsp; No photo of the owl, as it was on a post way out in a farmer's field and by the time I got the scope on it for a digiscoping shot, it flew off into the tall grass.<br />&nbsp; <br />Here are some of the photos I did get:<br /><div><br /></div><div><h4>Limpkin with a Snail</h4></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1PjBZSvpVV0/U-Fiz7y7jOI/AAAAAAAAFco/EAzlrsRj4Ko/s640/blogger-image--1133420452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1PjBZSvpVV0/U-Fiz7y7jOI/AAAAAAAAFco/EAzlrsRj4Ko/s640/blogger-image--1133420452.jpg" /></a></div><h4>Oops, lost it...</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qi1r-vhXj7M/U-FzbKcTGQI/AAAAAAAAFdo/gpeARZlUi54/s640/blogger-image-1581135860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Qi1r-vhXj7M/U-FzbKcTGQI/AAAAAAAAFdo/gpeARZlUi54/s640/blogger-image-1581135860.jpg" /></a></div><h4>Purple Swamphen</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3Ib337nyLcE/U-FzZqKsksI/AAAAAAAAFdg/ywp_9pkJRDU/s640/blogger-image--140129045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3Ib337nyLcE/U-FzZqKsksI/AAAAAAAAFdg/ywp_9pkJRDU/s640/blogger-image--140129045.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KZ9KBbdYn94/U-FzX6vjB1I/AAAAAAAAFdY/kfiSlpVEMDo/s640/blogger-image-346349686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KZ9KBbdYn94/U-FzX6vjB1I/AAAAAAAAFdY/kfiSlpVEMDo/s640/blogger-image-346349686.jpg" /></a></div><h4>Young Red-bellied Woodpecker eating a berry</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0LtWEOQteGA/U-FzRIFV0zI/AAAAAAAAFdI/JEXYZIO4Y0I/s640/blogger-image--1191193117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0LtWEOQteGA/U-FzRIFV0zI/AAAAAAAAFdI/JEXYZIO4Y0I/s640/blogger-image--1191193117.jpg" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7MDFckkwIsg/U-GTFzCYxHI/AAAAAAAAFeQ/_gSLWNP5RIs/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7MDFckkwIsg/U-GTFzCYxHI/AAAAAAAAFeQ/_gSLWNP5RIs/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Nooooooooooo!</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkh06FWsggI/U-GTF9ZX75I/AAAAAAAAFeU/mVOLEptrybA/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lkh06FWsggI/U-GTF9ZX75I/AAAAAAAAFeU/mVOLEptrybA/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><h4>Shiny Cowbird</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FluqRAXAFmM/U-FzS3dnKXI/AAAAAAAAFdQ/G91ytIcdxgM/s640/blogger-image--713817900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FluqRAXAFmM/U-FzS3dnKXI/AAAAAAAAFdQ/G91ytIcdxgM/s640/blogger-image--713817900.jpg" /></a></div><h4>Gray Kingbird</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><h4 class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BUMAyy9ysPQ/U-Fiylz6w8I/AAAAAAAAFcg/hKZ0iLmcbjM/s640/blogger-image-272846591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BUMAyy9ysPQ/U-Fiylz6w8I/AAAAAAAAFcg/hKZ0iLmcbjM/s640/blogger-image-272846591.jpg" /></a></h4><h4 class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yikes, what just happened?</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aIEvImo79u0/U-FittQEJRI/AAAAAAAAFcI/2hhEK9FDrjM/s640/blogger-image--1967394888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aIEvImo79u0/U-FittQEJRI/AAAAAAAAFcI/2hhEK9FDrjM/s640/blogger-image--1967394888.jpg" /></a></div><h4>Another View of the Shiny Cowbird</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--qWCSKE9A9U/U-Fzfvcau5I/AAAAAAAAFeA/ehIR8hrClsc/s640/blogger-image--23235252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--qWCSKE9A9U/U-Fzfvcau5I/AAAAAAAAFeA/ehIR8hrClsc/s640/blogger-image--23235252.jpg" /></a></div><h4>Monk Parakeet</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J11yMaREXHU/U-FzP6H524I/AAAAAAAAFdA/v5-raeZxLDQ/s640/blogger-image-664656655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-J11yMaREXHU/U-FzP6H524I/AAAAAAAAFdA/v5-raeZxLDQ/s640/blogger-image-664656655.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C3l6affXpXU/U-FzOCzCVJI/AAAAAAAAFc4/1bZin9p7d_I/s640/blogger-image--2063433011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-C3l6affXpXU/U-FzOCzCVJI/AAAAAAAAFc4/1bZin9p7d_I/s640/blogger-image--2063433011.jpg" /></a></div><br /><h4>The post where the Burowing Owl would come after the Meadowlark left</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7dVOHStiET8/U-Fzd-pWTII/AAAAAAAAFd4/N-BA470SYE8/s640/blogger-image--555697225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7dVOHStiET8/U-Fzd-pWTII/AAAAAAAAFd4/N-BA470SYE8/s640/blogger-image--555697225.jpg" /></a></div><h4>Dumpster Diving female Grackle</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3m3aqjEg8AA/U-FivZ04cMI/AAAAAAAAFcQ/CPamVwE2GUY/s640/blogger-image-1972713349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3m3aqjEg8AA/U-FivZ04cMI/AAAAAAAAFcQ/CPamVwE2GUY/s640/blogger-image-1972713349.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7LTY1CH6CJM/U-FzcuxJ42I/AAAAAAAAFdw/rUM0zNHad4Q/s640/blogger-image--1088158942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7LTY1CH6CJM/U-FzcuxJ42I/AAAAAAAAFdw/rUM0zNHad4Q/s640/blogger-image--1088158942.jpg" /></a></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-11344020475103405662014-07-23T10:23:00.002-07:002015-01-02T10:51:25.510-08:00The Dog Days of BirdingIf you're not traveling a lot, birding in southern Ontario in the summer is not that exciting. &nbsp;Yes, there are lots of birds around, including Eastern Kingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, House Finches, but new and rare birds are few and far between. &nbsp;So when news of a Northern Bobwhite up in the Hamilton Mountains filtered through my e-mail in box, it was call for celebration, kind of.<br /><br />I had to wait a couple of days, but when I did arrive at the designated spot, there were many birders, and a few chasers that I seem to run into at every rare bird alert, including a couple who's 6 month old baby has quite the life list already. &nbsp;It was pouring rain when I parked, so I hung out a bit and then decided to go get some lunch and return. &nbsp;And when I did, the sun was out and the Bobwhite was calling. &nbsp;It was, however being very gaurded about giving up its location. &nbsp;People came and went and eventually I got a glimps of the bird, but fumbled too long with my camera to get a photo. &nbsp;The one pictured below is a Bobwhite I saw last year.<br /><br />And just today I was in James Gardens. &nbsp;Started with biking and ended with birding. &nbsp;As I was getting my binoculars out of the car I ran into Don Burton, who leads bird walks in James Gardens in spring and fall, and together we found a pair of Solitary Sandpipers, while looking for Spotted Sandpipers and Killdeer. &nbsp;Only my second new species for July, but that could change when I head down to Florida and try and chase down the Smooth-billed Ani in Miami.<br /><br /><br />Northern Bobwhite,(seen last year at Rouge Park):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5MHKLO516E/U8_q6D8Qt9I/AAAAAAAAFbg/2Jx2NQgpTkc/s1600/432+Northern+Bobwhite-male-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5MHKLO516E/U8_q6D8Qt9I/AAAAAAAAFbg/2Jx2NQgpTkc/s1600/432+Northern+Bobwhite-male-2.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zwB85bDGoMI/U8_vXwVV8yI/AAAAAAAAFbw/jdHMWjmjpTE/s1600/DSC06451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zwB85bDGoMI/U8_vXwVV8yI/AAAAAAAAFbw/jdHMWjmjpTE/s1600/DSC06451.JPG" height="424" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-50523688786734409062014-07-04T14:24:00.000-07:002014-07-06T07:50:30.788-07:00Chasing Rarities is a LarkI actually got Sue to join my on a crazy chase for a rare Ontario bird this past week. &nbsp;A Lark Bunting, normally seen in Arizona, where I had seen at least one back in 2012, showed up on Amhurst Island, nearly 3 hours east of, and a ferry ride away from, Toronto. &nbsp;It had been reported a few days before but it wasn't until this past Monday that we were able to get out there, both having a rare Monday off.<br /><br />So off we drove to Prince Edward County, following directions on OntBirds, to the location of the Lark Bunting on Amherst Island. &nbsp;We arrived at the ferry docks just on time to drive on board for the short ride over to the island. &nbsp;While enroute I received an e-mail saying the bunting had just been seen around 10am, so we had high hopes it would be there when we arrived. &nbsp;It wasn't hard finding the location, as there were already some birders set up with their binoculars and cameras, but no bunting.<br /><br />Sue enjoys birds as much as anyone, but she wasn't willing to hang out for hours waiting for it to appear. &nbsp;We did have a picnic lunch we could have had while waiting, but luckily within 20 minutes of our arrival, the western vagrant Lark Bunting landed on the guy wires of a tall antenna, gave everyone a great show and even sang a song very reminicent of a Cardinal. <br /><br />Everyone was happy and we were off in search of a Snowy Owl that forgot it was supposed to head way north to the Canadian Arctic for the summer. &nbsp;After a few false starts and our picnic lunch by the water, we eventually stumbled upon the Snowy. &nbsp;Well, Sue stumbled up it. &nbsp;I was looking at Purple Martins off in the distance and Sue went down to the beach to take photos, when she found it on a rock outcropping hiding behind some vegitation. &nbsp;Cool find and just one of nearly a dozen Snowy Owls I've seen this year. <br /><br />But we weren't quite done yet. &nbsp;On the drive home we stopped for dinner at the Lake on the Mountain, which litterally is a like formed into a mountain top. &nbsp;It was on our way to a sighting, well hearing, of a Chuck-will's Widow. &nbsp;I've tried on several occasions to go out and listen for one, but came up empty each time. &nbsp;Hopefully this would be the night. &nbsp;We drove to Picton and up what seemed like a back alley way, called Hilltop Road. &nbsp;A narow gravel road surrounded by trees and bush. &nbsp;We were a bit early for the show, but spotted an American Woodcock just as dusk was settling in and even before dark Sue heard the first calls of the Chuck-will's Widow, which if you use your imagination a little does actually sound like its name. &nbsp;There were a lot of bugs, so Sue went and sat in the car and missed hearing the Whip-poor-will. &nbsp;The Widow was a lifer for both of us. &nbsp;So it was worth the drive to Prince Edward County for sure, as I added three new birds for my year list and two new speicies for my Ontario Life List.<br /><br />Some photos from Prince Edward, Col. Sam and a few leftovers from British Columbia:<br /><br /><h4>Spending its summers in the midwest, the Lark Bunting is a rare visitor to Southern Ontario:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iF4ux6cnvq4/U7b6IfZAx0I/AAAAAAAAFZw/3PEA18b3EEk/s1600/Lark+Bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iF4ux6cnvq4/U7b6IfZAx0I/AAAAAAAAFZw/3PEA18b3EEk/s1600/Lark+Bunting.jpg" height="362" width="640" /></a></div><br /><h4>A winter resident of Southern Ontario, this Snowy Owl decided to spend the summer:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I21HARNRRlw/U7b6JRZy21I/AAAAAAAAFaI/RRTk0ww220o/s1600/Snowy+Owl+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I21HARNRRlw/U7b6JRZy21I/AAAAAAAAFaI/RRTk0ww220o/s1600/Snowy+Owl+2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4>Anna's Hummingbird, Barred Owl and Bushtit, right where they should be in Vancouver, BC:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byCkGg12NqM/U7b5_GdLk-I/AAAAAAAAFZM/0OMTNRAJQ48/s1600/Annas+Hummingbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-byCkGg12NqM/U7b5_GdLk-I/AAAAAAAAFZM/0OMTNRAJQ48/s1600/Annas+Hummingbird.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GR6PEg8Or9s/U7b6IHkCsII/AAAAAAAAFaA/-0Z81q7IHHI/s1600/Barred+Owl+flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GR6PEg8Or9s/U7b6IHkCsII/AAAAAAAAFaA/-0Z81q7IHHI/s1600/Barred+Owl+flight.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WoSA8Ag8AWA/U7b6HNUQv1I/AAAAAAAAFZo/BRtQQzpsI-E/s1600/Bushtit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WoSA8Ag8AWA/U7b6HNUQv1I/AAAAAAAAFZo/BRtQQzpsI-E/s1600/Bushtit.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttYnKWcx2DI/U7b6F0x8Y4I/AAAAAAAAFZc/u_t4BIHdu_A/s1600/Barred+Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttYnKWcx2DI/U7b6F0x8Y4I/AAAAAAAAFZc/u_t4BIHdu_A/s1600/Barred+Owl.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Here at Home, a baby Bank Swallow:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ujlqszVKnI/U7b6Aug2AII/AAAAAAAAFZU/xj4zvWyzTlY/s1600/Bank+Swallow+-+juv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_ujlqszVKnI/U7b6Aug2AII/AAAAAAAAFZU/xj4zvWyzTlY/s1600/Bank+Swallow+-+juv.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><h4>&nbsp;Indigo Bunting, Curry Tract, Campbellville:</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veeB8Eki_V0/U7b6Ijwbv1I/AAAAAAAAFaE/2-r648t1CwQ/s1600/Indigo+Bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-veeB8Eki_V0/U7b6Ijwbv1I/AAAAAAAAFaE/2-r648t1CwQ/s1600/Indigo+Bunting.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-2355129665934260332014-06-25T07:04:00.000-07:002014-06-25T18:47:08.631-07:00Gone West<div>Well, I am returned from my annual trip to Vancouver, once again without a photo of an American Dipper, but that was just fine, as I decided I was finally going to take the ferry over to Victoria, BC,(actually, Sidney), and look for the Sky Lark that seems to enjoy summering in the fields at the back end of the Victoria International Airport. &nbsp;In 2012 it showed up too late in the year for me to go after it, and last year I had already made plans to go up to Squamish and look for American Dippers, when I learned that the Sky Lark had returned. &nbsp;This year I was not going to miss it, so as soon as I saw on e-bird that it had returned to the airport, I made plans to arrive a day early for my work trip and chase this somewhat rare bird.</div><div><br></div>I was also determined to find, at least for me, the elusive Black Swift, a bird I have searched for in both California's Yosemiti National Park and northern British Columbia, without success. &nbsp;So my hopes were high, after returning from Florida, where I added my first Black-necked Stilt of the year. &nbsp;I drove stright to the ferry docks from the airport in Vancouver, swallowing a Dramanine along the way to ward off sea sickness. &nbsp;No worries, as it's a slow and smooth sailing ship and I was rewarded with both Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants along the way, along with a host of Bald Eagles.<br><br>Upon disembarking from the ferry I drove straight to the e-bird coordinates of the Sky Lark and again was rewarded with a quick find. &nbsp;I heard the bird before I saw it, after playing its call on my iphone. &nbsp;The recording actually attracted Song Sparrows to the fence, but eventually the Sky Lark showed itself in flight and eventually landed near me on the other side of the fence. &nbsp;It was Lifer number 621, but I wasn't done yet. &nbsp;I headed over to Prospect Pond where a Black Swift had been reported and as I approached the lake at the end of a road, down a hill, what do you know, the swift was flying around above the lake and stayed until a Bald Eagle landed in a tree close by. &nbsp;The guy fishing there told me the eagle comes every day to try and eat the fish he catches and releases. &nbsp;It also scares off Black Swifts.<br><br>I spent the rest of my free time in BC birding in and around Victoria and Vancouver and added 20 new species to my year list, including Pigeon Guillemot, Black Oyster Catcher, Rhinoceros Auklet, and Bullock's Oriole, of which I got my first photograph. &nbsp;My list for The Americas, now stands at 492 for the year.<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <b>From Florida:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Black-necked Stilt:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ABWJvzFGwGM/U6oIk0c2IOI/AAAAAAAAFW0/3BaRj6IpbaM/s1600/Black-necked+Stilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_lm_580845="null" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ABWJvzFGwGM/U6oIk0c2IOI/AAAAAAAAFW0/3BaRj6IpbaM/s1600/Black-necked+Stilt.jpg" height="360" oua="true" width="640"></a></h3></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 style="text-align: left;">Eastern Towhee:</h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yy3dANt_SVg/U6rUb6VJe6I/AAAAAAAAFXI/Ac1u_4JQybY/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yy3dANt_SVg/U6rUb6VJe6I/AAAAAAAAFXI/Ac1u_4JQybY/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" height="360" width="640"></a></h3></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Royal Tern:</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBkQclRkQvw/U6oGjpz9ZHI/AAAAAAAAFWo/KtKsiC3Brso/s1600/Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" closure_lm_580845="null" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gBkQclRkQvw/U6oGjpz9ZHI/AAAAAAAAFWo/KtKsiC3Brso/s1600/Tern.jpg" height="358" oua="true" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>From British Columbia:</b></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Black Swift:</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_46xT-mzFPI/U6rVFLCuiYI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/ZqU_6OLCEpY/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_46xT-mzFPI/U6rVFLCuiYI/AAAAAAAAFXQ/ZqU_6OLCEpY/s1600/IMG_0091.JPG" height="358" width="640"></a></div><br>Brandt's Cormorant:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3OJMbogfa8/U6rVFWcQNFI/AAAAAAAAFXU/6rb25XVXvMo/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j3OJMbogfa8/U6rVFWcQNFI/AAAAAAAAFXU/6rb25XVXvMo/s1600/IMG_0093.JPG" height="358" width="640"></a></div><br>Bullock's Oriole:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQuvc0_glk8/U6rVF0AxenI/AAAAAAAAFXY/Rq7SrrLDttw/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQuvc0_glk8/U6rVF0AxenI/AAAAAAAAFXY/Rq7SrrLDttw/s1600/IMG_0094.JPG" height="358" width="640"></a></div><br>Bushtit:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4FLC6u4UVd4/U6rVLVmeBUI/AAAAAAAAFX4/gcbyuOSHKqI/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4FLC6u4UVd4/U6rVLVmeBUI/AAAAAAAAFX4/gcbyuOSHKqI/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG" height="358" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>&nbsp;Harlequin Duck:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UiFiI1OjWWI/U6rVIfGxqTI/AAAAAAAAFXo/5w25WPGia7s/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UiFiI1OjWWI/U6rVIfGxqTI/AAAAAAAAFXo/5w25WPGia7s/s1600/IMG_0098.JPG" height="360" width="640"></a></div><br>Heerman's Gull,(rare for Victoria,BC):<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEbHzlm4tNc/U6rVMo__hgI/AAAAAAAAFYI/abRX_Us6Iww/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yEbHzlm4tNc/U6rVMo__hgI/AAAAAAAAFYI/abRX_Us6Iww/s1600/IMG_0100.JPG" height="360" width="640"></a></div><br>Pelagic Cormorant:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yOQZXXvtJzU/U6rVNJyqkvI/AAAAAAAAFYE/D2BcDZUXQfM/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yOQZXXvtJzU/U6rVNJyqkvI/AAAAAAAAFYE/D2BcDZUXQfM/s1600/IMG_0102.JPG" height="358" width="640"></a></div><br>Pigeon Guillemot:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n7rBqM3yNcs/U6rVMnn2-CI/AAAAAAAAFYA/57nzb9_4wH0/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n7rBqM3yNcs/U6rVMnn2-CI/AAAAAAAAFYA/57nzb9_4wH0/s1600/IMG_0103.JPG" height="360" width="640"></a></div><br>Rhinoceros Auklet:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVJ5SqrHBfs/U6rVOFeV4tI/AAAAAAAAFYU/__1ygJPXWGE/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nVJ5SqrHBfs/U6rVOFeV4tI/AAAAAAAAFYU/__1ygJPXWGE/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG" height="358" width="640"></a></div>&nbsp;<br>Sky Lark:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DV_AzKi_ZyA/U6rVS4D-X_I/AAAAAAAAFYw/w0SFuUIzZXs/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DV_AzKi_ZyA/U6rVS4D-X_I/AAAAAAAAFYw/w0SFuUIzZXs/s1600/IMG_0105.JPG" height="360" width="640"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A68ZemgrJyk/U6rVO-E4wsI/AAAAAAAAFYg/QWGJ0OvOyxw/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A68ZemgrJyk/U6rVO-E4wsI/AAAAAAAAFYg/QWGJ0OvOyxw/s1600/IMG_0106.JPG" height="362" width="640"></a></div><br>Violet-green Swallow:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXaPAl_jAnA/U6rVQF1mrBI/AAAAAAAAFYo/eM54DtcSiLM/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QXaPAl_jAnA/U6rVQF1mrBI/AAAAAAAAFYo/eM54DtcSiLM/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" height="360" width="640"></a></div><br>Black Oystercatcher, eating an oyster:<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLKtiPJAg-I/U6rVTn2CGII/AAAAAAAAFY4/bl4OQuuRSW0/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pLKtiPJAg-I/U6rVTn2CGII/AAAAAAAAFY4/bl4OQuuRSW0/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" height="360" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br></div><div></div><div></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-81670818762229642222014-06-06T17:34:00.001-07:002014-06-16T05:58:47.352-07:00A Few New BirdsJune in Ontario is a slow month for birding, as migration has ended and few new birds show up. &nbsp;However, I did miss a couple of warblers during the height of Migration, and was able to go to a few new birding spots this year, thanks to recommendations from other birders.<br><div><br></div><div>The first was a place called Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve just south of Barrie, where Mourning Warblers nest. &nbsp;I didn't get to see one of these reclusive birds there, but did hear 3 individuals calling as I walked the mosquito infested trails. &nbsp;The second new spot was a place called Skunk's Misery, and again the misery was mosquitos in even greater numbers. &nbsp;In this nature preserve near Newbury, I was looking for recently seen Cerulean Warblers and Acadian Flycathers that nest in the area. &nbsp;I stuck out on the Cerulean, but did watch a Yellow-billed Cuckoo fly by and then found the calling, and posing for photographs, Acadian Flycatcher. &nbsp;I finally got photos of a bird I have mostly only hear over the past two-plus years and only at Happy Valley.</div><div><br></div><div>My next trip was a return for the first time since 2012 to Carden Alvar, an important area in Ontario, where many birds find nesting grounds, including the Eastern Loggerhead Shike, Upland Sandpiper and Golden-winged Warbler. &nbsp;I had hoped to finally get photos of the Golden-winged and add Upland Sandpiper to my year list. &nbsp;I saw the Uplander as I drove toward Wylie Rd and heard the Golden-winged along Wylie Rd, but did not see one. &nbsp;I also missed the Loggerhead Shrikes, which would have been an Ontario Lifer. &nbsp;I did hear several Sedge Wrens, and they I were number 272 for my Ontario Life List.</div><div><br></div><div>And the other day I went out for one last search for Cerulean Warblers, the one Wood Warbler that can been seen in Ontario that I haven't seen in 2014. &nbsp;The destination was Backus Woods, in Norfolk County, just north of Longpoint Provincial Park. &nbsp;According to e-bird and Jody, who was organizing an OFO tour for the following weekend, I'd hear and perhaps see the Ceruleans along the Wetlands Trail. &nbsp;There are two entrances and I took the one the furthest from where the Cerulean reports came from. &nbsp;So for nearly two hours I walked with only a Rose-breasted Grosbeak for my time. &nbsp;Eventually, though, as I was returning to the main path, I started hearing the Cerulean calls and within minutes I found one and had it land close enough for a few photos. &nbsp;I even got a bonus look at a Hooded Warbler before heading out.</div><br>Acadian Flycatcher<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FxtZk8h45kA/U5PNKP-VxcI/AAAAAAAAFUc/ckNGu7Y5MgA/s640/blogger-image--1197332791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FxtZk8h45kA/U5PNKP-VxcI/AAAAAAAAFUc/ckNGu7Y5MgA/s640/blogger-image--1197332791.jpg"></a></div><br>Clay-colored Sparrow<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Cm4hcY3W8e0/U5PNL1MZbsI/AAAAAAAAFUk/DKwY9lkiZRI/s640/blogger-image--830399286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Cm4hcY3W8e0/U5PNL1MZbsI/AAAAAAAAFUk/DKwY9lkiZRI/s640/blogger-image--830399286.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LLCHZzHVoGA/U5PNXpoOinI/AAAAAAAAFVc/tiIr256QWAQ/s640/blogger-image--1632223448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LLCHZzHVoGA/U5PNXpoOinI/AAAAAAAAFVc/tiIr256QWAQ/s640/blogger-image--1632223448.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CsmOGJVNVV8/U5PNbBo-lwI/AAAAAAAAFVs/WFbPDSLVS3g/s640/blogger-image--1995455967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-CsmOGJVNVV8/U5PNbBo-lwI/AAAAAAAAFVs/WFbPDSLVS3g/s640/blogger-image--1995455967.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EJyn-u_bP7Y/U5PNZAzM3fI/AAAAAAAAFVk/pjNZEwaFYFw/s640/blogger-image--1021163816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-EJyn-u_bP7Y/U5PNZAzM3fI/AAAAAAAAFVk/pjNZEwaFYFw/s640/blogger-image--1021163816.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-efXdtHJMkQY/U5PNUspa5VI/AAAAAAAAFVM/efUTihsrKBM/s640/blogger-image--2070868036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-efXdtHJMkQY/U5PNUspa5VI/AAAAAAAAFVM/efUTihsrKBM/s640/blogger-image--2070868036.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Acadian Flycatcher<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pGGZ04kAlO0/U5PNIsFQycI/AAAAAAAAFUU/2XqhZ2VxkOw/s640/blogger-image--1731674812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pGGZ04kAlO0/U5PNIsFQycI/AAAAAAAAFUU/2XqhZ2VxkOw/s640/blogger-image--1731674812.jpg"></a></div><br>Great-crested Flycatcher<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S5sDqRTDj6Q/U5PNcovfMFI/AAAAAAAAFV0/iT5d7VkXxh4/s640/blogger-image-704002999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-S5sDqRTDj6Q/U5PNcovfMFI/AAAAAAAAFV0/iT5d7VkXxh4/s640/blogger-image-704002999.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PzpTBOFVMXA/U5PNG9AQaaI/AAAAAAAAFUM/CET_geedXKw/s640/blogger-image--744716006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PzpTBOFVMXA/U5PNG9AQaaI/AAAAAAAAFUM/CET_geedXKw/s640/blogger-image--744716006.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GuVQXZQP52Q/U5PNPNZiVOI/AAAAAAAAFU0/4o8BAgC-QMQ/s640/blogger-image-10579977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GuVQXZQP52Q/U5PNPNZiVOI/AAAAAAAAFU0/4o8BAgC-QMQ/s640/blogger-image-10579977.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ILlEI2PAiF4/U5PNNV1zhKI/AAAAAAAAFUs/ZKCH2hq1p48/s640/blogger-image-397092568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ILlEI2PAiF4/U5PNNV1zhKI/AAAAAAAAFUs/ZKCH2hq1p48/s640/blogger-image-397092568.jpg"></a></div><br>Cerulean Warbler<br><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n4KAkawilAs/U5PNRM_VAXI/AAAAAAAAFU8/A7rsn9_Z0IE/s640/blogger-image--829606906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-n4KAkawilAs/U5PNRM_VAXI/AAAAAAAAFU8/A7rsn9_Z0IE/s640/blogger-image--829606906.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EQB2Bj_z2vI/U5PNegCEYSI/AAAAAAAAFV8/jlcNKwYIkEc/s640/blogger-image--2039446648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-EQB2Bj_z2vI/U5PNegCEYSI/AAAAAAAAFV8/jlcNKwYIkEc/s640/blogger-image--2039446648.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EP3IZbgi0-M/U5PNS9psX_I/AAAAAAAAFVE/G8JYPpE0g7I/s640/blogger-image--739928506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EP3IZbgi0-M/U5PNS9psX_I/AAAAAAAAFVE/G8JYPpE0g7I/s640/blogger-image--739928506.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ad3CuZc6lW4/U5PNWBkaFdI/AAAAAAAAFVU/a9l5KTband4/s640/blogger-image-604413360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ad3CuZc6lW4/U5PNWBkaFdI/AAAAAAAAFVU/a9l5KTband4/s640/blogger-image-604413360.jpg"></a></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-34602457017983775502014-06-04T18:02:00.000-07:002014-06-05T18:41:48.409-07:002014 Spring Migration, Part 4: Whimbrels Bring Up the RearOne of the highlights of spring migration in Toronto is the Whimbrel Watch at Col. Sam Smith Park in the west end of the city along the lake.&nbsp; Every year from mid May until the end of the month, Whimbrels take off from their staging grounds in Virginia and fly through the night, passing over the aptly named Whimbrel Point, at the south end of the park.&nbsp; How they knew to cross right by Whimbrel Point is a mystery only the birding gods know the secret of.&nbsp; For two weeks hundreds of birders drop by the point to watch thousands of Whimbrels migrate to their nesting grounds in Arctic Canada and Alaska.<br /><div><br /></div><div>My first visit resulted in no Whimbrels to watch and my second I saw one fly by at a reasonably close distance, but the third time really was the charm as I discovered, along with Jean Iron, who loves to watch Whimbrels, a flock of 14 Whimbrels sitting on the rocks just north of the point. &nbsp;A few of us hung out and watched them for a while and got great photos.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is also a good time of year for other shore birds and I spent a morning at two great spots just outside Toronto, Reesor's Pond, which is not really a pond, and Nonquon Sewage Lagoons, which is really a sewage lagoon. &nbsp;At Reesor's, along with local birder, Stan Long, I had nice looks at Semipalmated Plovers and Sandpipers, along with lots of Dunlin, which are much prettier in the spring up north than the boring gray they are down in Florida in the winter and early spring. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>At Nonquon I was able to watch dozens of Black Terns flying in and around the retention ponds, and with the help of another birder, whom I've met before but don't know the name of, I was able to locate a Wilson's Phalarope and White-rumped Sandpipers. &nbsp;I finished off the morning at Thickson's Woods, where another nice birder, who's name I didn't bother to ask, alterted me to the presence of a Gray-cheeked Thrush, which I found hanging out along the main path. &nbsp;Also found yet another Canada Warbler, having now seen over a dozen of them this year, including another at Tommy Thompson Park just the other day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, thanks to a tip from another birder I met a couple of weeks ago at Col. Sam, Ron Flemming, I went to a new park, Cawthra Mulock Nature Reserve, where I was promised Mourning Warblers. &nbsp;Along with Cerulean, the Mourning Warbler is the only regularly migrating warbler I have missed this year. &nbsp;Mourning Warblers are notoroiously difficult to see, and this was the case yesterday. &nbsp;I heard at least three individuals over my 2 hour walk, but never really saw one.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did, however, see and hear the bzzzzz-bzzz of a Clay-colored Sparrow and got great photos. &nbsp;Migration is pretty much at its tail end, but I did enjoy a walk in Col. Sam this morning where I heard and photographed a Blackpoll Warlber, along with a nice Black-crowned Night Heron.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-01bPZet8dqA/U4xNlB7iOJI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/lJLITIVkmJ0/s640/blogger-image--863255906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-01bPZet8dqA/U4xNlB7iOJI/AAAAAAAAFQ4/lJLITIVkmJ0/s640/blogger-image--863255906.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jcofm3xLgf4/U4xNoM-4Q0I/AAAAAAAAFRI/iX8cw2_4eNo/s640/blogger-image--79913051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jcofm3xLgf4/U4xNoM-4Q0I/AAAAAAAAFRI/iX8cw2_4eNo/s640/blogger-image--79913051.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c6Bz2kwwBA0/U4xNmtuGbuI/AAAAAAAAFRA/4IUH4LhgKrE/s640/blogger-image-752177779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c6Bz2kwwBA0/U4xNmtuGbuI/AAAAAAAAFRA/4IUH4LhgKrE/s640/blogger-image-752177779.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8sd_VzwVCR4/U4xOKhRrx0I/AAAAAAAAFRY/tMC4uYUphDM/s640/blogger-image-846006049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8sd_VzwVCR4/U4xOKhRrx0I/AAAAAAAAFRY/tMC4uYUphDM/s640/blogger-image-846006049.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gc7g-l8tnb0/U4xONXt1yHI/AAAAAAAAFRo/BhU_4TVfixs/s640/blogger-image--915730205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gc7g-l8tnb0/U4xONXt1yHI/AAAAAAAAFRo/BhU_4TVfixs/s640/blogger-image--915730205.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-doBwoaj_jWs/U4xOJCNbRlI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/fzE8o4YHEv8/s640/blogger-image--264678468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-doBwoaj_jWs/U4xOJCNbRlI/AAAAAAAAFRQ/fzE8o4YHEv8/s640/blogger-image--264678468.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cVint-occec/U4xOOjeLdpI/AAAAAAAAFRw/6sURmQw8Wo8/s640/blogger-image--1066405340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cVint-occec/U4xOOjeLdpI/AAAAAAAAFRw/6sURmQw8Wo8/s640/blogger-image--1066405340.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lP6HmpcYvOU/U4xOML4FoCI/AAAAAAAAFRg/1NBc5lchmjU/s640/blogger-image--1874056336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-lP6HmpcYvOU/U4xOML4FoCI/AAAAAAAAFRg/1NBc5lchmjU/s640/blogger-image--1874056336.jpg" /></a></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-60480069113530574182014-05-23T14:12:00.000-07:002014-06-05T18:36:01.773-07:002014 Spring Migration, Part 3: Migrating to Michigan<h4><span style="font-weight: normal;">There are several reasons to travel to Michigan during Spring migration, the Kirtland's Warbler in Grayling, the Piping Plovers in Whitefish Point and plenty of National Wildlife Preserves to both walk and drive through. &nbsp;We also had plans to go &nbsp;Mackinac Island to both bird and ride horses, but an "emergency" work trip to Boston had us change plans midstream, so we only had time to do a few of our planned trips.</span></h4><div>As was he case last year, we started at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, but it was much quieter there than last year and pretty chilly too. &nbsp;However there were reports of. Yellow-headed Blackbirds,(my favorite of all the Blackbirds, baked in a pie or otherwise), Nayancuing Point SWA,(not sure what an SWA is-State Wildlife Area, perhaps), so we headed over there and enjoyed watching the Yellow-headed Blackbirds along with a nice variety of other birds, including a Swamp Sparrow, along with the calls of American Bitterns.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were up early the next morning in Grayling to join the tour, with about 15 other birders to see the Kirtland's Warbler. &nbsp;Last year we were on a tour with a record 40 birders, so 15 on a weekend seemed like a small group. &nbsp;Sue and I were the only ones present for whom the Kirtland's wasn't a Lifer. &nbsp;Last year we never got very close looks at a male, but this year the birds were singing and providing incredible looks and photo opportunities. &nbsp;We even got our "year" Ruffed Grouse on the way there and a Vesper Sparrow upon our arrival.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our next stop was Whitefish point, where I was treated to a juvenile Bald Eagle flyover before Sue and I were treated to a little warbler-fest in the woods, near where they do the owl banding. &nbsp;The first night we attended the banding they did not catch any owls, but the following night we were treated to a Northern Saw-whet Owl banding. &nbsp;That day we took a drive to Seney National Wildlife Preserve and drove the wildlife route, and visited the largest waterfall east of the Mississippi and second only to Niagara Falls, along the Mighty Tahquamenon River. <br /><br />On our final morning we were treated to close looks at both Semipalmated and Piping Plover, along with a Horned Lark on the beach. &nbsp;Afterwards we sat at the feeders where for the previous two days we were treated to hundreds, if not thousands of migrating Blue Jays, who were not quite ready to face the trek across the lake to Ontario. &nbsp;I was hoping we would see the Lincoln's Sparrow that had been reported the previous day, and we did, but not before a strange brown-headed bird popped into my binocular view. &nbsp;I had been thinking, the entire time we were in Whitefish Point that it would be cool if a Boreal Chickadee made an appearance. &nbsp;Except this bird had a black spot on its cheek, and Sue said, it was no chickadee, but a sparrow. &nbsp;I was trying to place it, when another birder asked if we had found the Eurasian Tree Sparrow. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Now I knew what I was looking at. &nbsp;I had seen them at dusk in St. Louis during my Big Year, and just the day before I had asked Sue if she ever wanted to go there to see it and was having no part of taking a trip to St. Louis to see a sparrow. &nbsp;Well, the birding gods were smiling upon us this morning, as we had a Eurasian Tree Sparrow just come to us. &nbsp;It was a Lifer for Sue and species number 454 for my year.</div><div><br /></div><div>Afterwards we had to face the long drive home, but did stop at Point Pelee for a couple of hours of birding on the final day of the Festival of Birds. &nbsp;In fact, by that time we had the entire Woodland Trail to ourselves. &nbsp;Sue was lucky enough to return the next day, while I headed I off to Boston, where I was 5 days late for a reported Fork-tailed Flycatcher. &nbsp;I did enjoy morning birding in the Boston Victory Gardens, where in 2012 I was able to see a MacGilvary's Warbler.<br /><br /><br /><h4>Blackburnian Warbler</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vh-MgSBZGs/U3-4mWPWasI/AAAAAAAAFO4/3Ph4pUNer7U/s1600/Blackburnian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6vh-MgSBZGs/U3-4mWPWasI/AAAAAAAAFO4/3Ph4pUNer7U/s1600/Blackburnian.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Cape May Warbler</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UDWqt3eMhk/U3-4milfl8I/AAAAAAAAFO8/5NnP3wCo25w/s1600/Cape+May+Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UDWqt3eMhk/U3-4milfl8I/AAAAAAAAFO8/5NnP3wCo25w/s1600/Cape+May+Warbler.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Eurasian Tree Sparrow far from its St. Louis Home</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbE9aCYvyfQ/U3-4ntdTkRI/AAAAAAAAFPk/9xeBbah_cu4/s1600/Eurasian+Tree+Sparrow+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dbE9aCYvyfQ/U3-4ntdTkRI/AAAAAAAAFPk/9xeBbah_cu4/s1600/Eurasian+Tree+Sparrow+1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg6OZcuV77U/U3-4nbZSblI/AAAAAAAAFPA/aWUJ6EA02Kc/s1600/Eurasian+Tree+Sparrow+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cg6OZcuV77U/U3-4nbZSblI/AAAAAAAAFPA/aWUJ6EA02Kc/s1600/Eurasian+Tree+Sparrow+2.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_4Qj_fH_tA/U3-4nbeVE1I/AAAAAAAAFPI/mxPzmppn82g/s1600/Golden+Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_4Qj_fH_tA/U3-4nbeVE1I/AAAAAAAAFPI/mxPzmppn82g/s1600/Golden+Eagle.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><h4>The world famous Kirtland's Warbler</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cmkGeARhfwk/U3-4oBikOeI/AAAAAAAAFPM/95ZmNilyvr8/s1600/Kirtland+Warbler+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cmkGeARhfwk/U3-4oBikOeI/AAAAAAAAFPM/95ZmNilyvr8/s1600/Kirtland+Warbler+1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Lw0wvw1miY/U3-4pFyUmHI/AAAAAAAAFPg/eRkK2zqiLFU/s1600/Kirtland+Warbler+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Lw0wvw1miY/U3-4pFyUmHI/AAAAAAAAFPg/eRkK2zqiLFU/s1600/Kirtland+Warbler+2.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zy4VE9wjPU/U3-4pCP9EsI/AAAAAAAAFPc/qW_QtiEB3GI/s1600/Kirtland+Warbler+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2zy4VE9wjPU/U3-4pCP9EsI/AAAAAAAAFPc/qW_QtiEB3GI/s1600/Kirtland+Warbler+3.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwvuNuqO7PE/U3-4p-3jveI/AAAAAAAAFQM/wII-ThV0gyY/s1600/Lincoln's+Sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwvuNuqO7PE/U3-4p-3jveI/AAAAAAAAFQM/wII-ThV0gyY/s1600/Lincoln's+Sparrow.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNdGdS3erKQ/U3-4p6O08pI/AAAAAAAAFPw/udTsrMbRj5w/s1600/Mr+and+Mrs+Ring-necked+Duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WNdGdS3erKQ/U3-4p6O08pI/AAAAAAAAFPw/udTsrMbRj5w/s1600/Mr+and+Mrs+Ring-necked+Duck.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Piping Plover</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snJtnqUVyhk/U3-4qGVVuCI/AAAAAAAAFP0/dBd_noXCBDM/s1600/Piping+Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-snJtnqUVyhk/U3-4qGVVuCI/AAAAAAAAFP0/dBd_noXCBDM/s1600/Piping+Plover.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZJlY18maZE/U3-4qoPukPI/AAAAAAAAFQA/XWgrH635bvA/s1600/Ring-neckd+Duck+with+ring+showing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wZJlY18maZE/U3-4qoPukPI/AAAAAAAAFQA/XWgrH635bvA/s1600/Ring-neckd+Duck+with+ring+showing.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><h4>Semipalmated Plover</h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VAQjrSNarE/U3-4qvUajrI/AAAAAAAAFQE/lJLlUHjN52w/s1600/Semipalmated+Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_VAQjrSNarE/U3-4qvUajrI/AAAAAAAAFQE/lJLlUHjN52w/s1600/Semipalmated+Plover.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tthQKhlj8wo/U3-4rVDV2lI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/FTh9N8AUL5I/s1600/Yellow-bellied+Sapsucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tthQKhlj8wo/U3-4rVDV2lI/AAAAAAAAFQQ/FTh9N8AUL5I/s1600/Yellow-bellied+Sapsucker.jpg" height="358" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5i7hR9upda8/U3-4rUsTkqI/AAAAAAAAFQU/6OZSSgGezEM/s1600/Yellow-headed+Blackbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5i7hR9upda8/U3-4rUsTkqI/AAAAAAAAFQU/6OZSSgGezEM/s1600/Yellow-headed+Blackbird.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5696610255875571345.post-70204442178579099152014-05-15T15:19:00.001-07:002014-05-15T18:04:20.991-07:002014 Spring Migration Toronto UpdateWith a trip to Michigan coming up, I have still been birding in Toronto and when a Yellow-breasted Chat showed up at Ashbridges Bay Park, along the lake on the east side of the city I had to go. &nbsp;My only other Chat was in 2012 in Henderson, Nevada. &nbsp;I wanted this bird for both my Ontario and 2014 list, so off I went.<div><br></div><div>I, along with two ladies who, though not serious birders, were avid bird photographers, searched in along the chilly and damp west end of the park, finding a great number of warblers, including a Wilson's Warbler, and I enjoyed pointing out and identifying the birds for them as we searched. &nbsp;After a while they came over to me with their camera so Donna could show me the bird they she had just photographed, for identification. &nbsp;Wouldn't you know it, they found the Chat. &nbsp;<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Along with two other birders, including my birding buddy David, we went looking for and found this Toronto rarity and got great looks along with photos. &nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The next morning I was witness to a veritalble swarm of warblers in Col. Sam Smith Park. &nbsp;It only lasted about 15 minutes, but myself and another birder were treated to quite a show, as at least a hundred birds flew from tree to tree above our heads. &nbsp;It was a task to identify any of them, but I did get a look at nearly a dozen warblers, including both a Golden-winged and Worm-eating Warbler. &nbsp;And once again, neither of the birds hung around for photos.</span></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">In about 2 hours at Col. Sam I saw the following list:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2 Canada Goose<br>12 Double-crested Cormorant<br>1 Osprey<br>1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher<br>1 Eastern Kingbird<br>1 Philadelphia Vireo<br>2 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher<br>1 Golden-crowned Kinglet<br>1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet<br>4 Gray Catbird<br>1 Northern Mockingbird<br>6 European Starling<br>1 Golden-winged Warbler -- Well seen in bare tree in the "bowl". Gray wings with distinctive yellow "golden " wings<br>1 Orange-crowned Warbler<br>1 Northern Parula<br>6 Magnolia Warbler<br>1 Black-throated Blue Warbler<br>6 Yellow-rumped Warbler<br>2 Black-throated Green Warbler<br>1 Blackburnian Warbler<br>1 Palm Warbler<br>2 Bay-breasted Warbler<br>3 Black-and-white Warbler<br>2 American Redstart<br>1 Worm-eating Warbler -- Seen during a brief flurry of dozens of warblers moving through the "bowl". Distinctive black stripes on brownish head. Pale underparts<br>2 Canada Warbler<br>1 Chipping Sparrow<br>1 Grasshopper Sparrow<br>1 Song Sparrow<br>1 White-crowned Sparrow<br>1 Scarlet Tanager<br>2 Northern Cardinal<br>1 Rose-breasted Grosbeak<br>2 Indigo Bunting<br>12 Red-winged Blackbird<br>6 Common Grackle<br>4 Brown-headed Cowbird<br>2 Baltimore Oriole<br>1 House Sparrow</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over the past two weeks I have added a few birds to my Ontario Life List and over 20 to my Col. Sam list, which now stands at 139 in just over 28 months.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This morning on the way to work I tried for a Cerulian Warbler, but it began raining before I could locate it, even though at times I was sure it was calling.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Next stop Michigan and a return to Grayling and the Kirtland's Warbler, some horseback riding and visits to Point Pelee National Park and Rondeau Provinical Park as spring migration winds down.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yellow-breasted Chat:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3Mqw_qfFYnc/U3VfSBPDgPI/AAAAAAAAFOY/F3wvFWalFVE/s640/blogger-image--198931717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3Mqw_qfFYnc/U3VfSBPDgPI/AAAAAAAAFOY/F3wvFWalFVE/s640/blogger-image--198931717.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A Beautiful Male Canada Warbler:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cpnb8AugKAg/U3VfN-FznBI/AAAAAAAAFOA/qutPww-bhLU/s640/blogger-image-210812627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cpnb8AugKAg/U3VfN-FznBI/AAAAAAAAFOA/qutPww-bhLU/s640/blogger-image-210812627.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Magnolia Warblers have been in great abundance this year at Col. Sam Smith Park</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QnYBzQl4ClE/U3VfPMK6NtI/AAAAAAAAFOI/Q6DjPl4HfJ8/s640/blogger-image--518641670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QnYBzQl4ClE/U3VfPMK6NtI/AAAAAAAAFOI/Q6DjPl4HfJ8/s640/blogger-image--518641670.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A Marsh Wren no where near a marsh:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_VCVgP9CEug/U3VfQvUUKWI/AAAAAAAAFOQ/lBmUAiR0YQk/s640/blogger-image-785335543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_VCVgP9CEug/U3VfQvUUKWI/AAAAAAAAFOQ/lBmUAiR0YQk/s640/blogger-image-785335543.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></span></div>Robert Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12427373234806034381noreply@blogger.com0